On April 27, the 13th Global Investment and M&A Summit was held in Shanghai Hongqiao Business District. As one of the highest-profile and longest-standing conferences in China's M&A sector, the summit centered on the theme "Activating Industrial M&A" and brought together more than 500 senior representatives from listed companies, industrial groups, M&A funds, local investment platforms, and financial service institutions. Kong Fu'an, secretary of the Party Leadership Group and executive deputy director of the Administrative Committee of the Hongqiao International Central Business District, and Zhang Wei, secretary of the CPC Changning District Committee, attended and delivered speeches.

Kong promoted the Hongqiao International Central Business District. In 2025, leveraging its four major functions — "grand transportation, grand exhibition, grand business, and grand science and technology innovation" — as well as its strengths in location, policies, environment, and talent, Hongqiao saw growth rates in multiple economic indicators significantly higher than the city's average. It is accelerating its transformation into the "hub of hubs" in the Yangtze River Delta and a "rainbow bridge" connecting domestic and international markets. The Hongqiao M&A Cluster, focusing on an integrated M&A service platform and emphasizing cross-border M&A, aims to strengthen and supplement the industrial chain with new quality productive forces. The "1+3+N" M&A ecosystem has shown initial success, with cumulative M&A transaction volume reaching approximately 20 billion yuan since 2025. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Hongqiao will accelerate the development of a Yangtze River Delta manufacturing R&D cluster and the first stop for Delta enterprises going global, building a new hub for M&A factor allocation and a pioneer for cross-border M&A.

Zhang noted that Changning, as the only central urban district within Shanghai's Hongqiao International Open Hub, boasts high-end factor agglomeration, a sound industrial ecosystem, and an exceptional business environment. Currently, Changning is accelerating the development of the Hongqiao M&A Cluster's Changning functional zone, integrating investment M&A into its upgraded "3+3" key industrial system. The district has already gathered over 700 related enterprises, facilitated the successful launch of the first batch of projects worth 100 million yuan and the first M&A private equity fund, and created signature brands such as the "Hongqiao Investment M&A Reception Hall." Moving forward, Changning will continue to deepen its focus on project M&A, industrial funds, and other niche tracks, improving the functional layout of sci-tech finance in the east, stable asset management in the central area, and cross-border M&A in the west. With utmost sincerity and premier services, Changning aims to support enterprise development and invites all sectors to seize new opportunities in industrial M&A for mutually beneficial outcomes.

At the summit, the ceremony for admitting the second batch of the members of the Hongqiao Investment M&A Alliance was held, with over 40 listed companies, industrial groups, leading M&A funds, and financial service institutions officially joining. The alliance will focus on new quality productive forces, build a regular exchange and matchmaking platform, and collectively form an M&A ecosystem community integrating "industry, capital, government, and services." By creating the Hongqiao M&A ecosystem circle, it aims to empower high-quality industrial development in Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta.

Morning Whistle Group, the summit organizer, released a series of achievements and honors, including an AI-driven one-stop investment and M&A service platform, a new generation AI agent product matrix, and the 2025–2026 M&A Golden Whistle Award winners.

During the keynote speech session, Tu Guangshao, former Standing Committee member of the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, executive vice mayor of Shanghai and chairman of the Shanghai Finance Institute, delivered a speech titled "Technological Innovation and the M&A Market." Wang Zhongmin, former vice chairman of the National Social Security Fund, gave an insightful speech on "The Industrial Organization Revolution Activated by Capital M&A." Xu Nuo, chairman of China Galaxy Investment, focused on "Adhering to Long-Term Value Co-Creation to Promote High-Quality Development of China's M&A Market."

In the roundtable dialogue, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the theme "How to Activate Industrial M&A," addressing pain points and difficulties, policy opportunities, implementation pathways, ecosystem building, and other core issues, jointly exploring effective paths to activate industrial M&A.

On the same day, a "Face-to-Face with District Leaders" special exchange event was held concurrently. Deputy District Director Zhao Yongzun held discussions with representatives from over ten investment institutions and listed companies, covering core business, M&A opportunities, and cooperation intentions. Relevant functional departments and local units also participated, providing a platform for all parties involved in investment and M&A to showcase their strengths.

Heads from the District Investment Promotion Office, Donghongqiao Development Office, Chengjiaqiao Subdistrict, Xinjing Town, and Donghongqiao Group attended the event.